Self locking shelf table

ABSTRACT

A table of the knockdown type which is provided with a plurality of readily detachable legs and having a shelf that is carried by said legs in spaced parallel relation to said table. The shelf is formed with suitable apertures through which the legs project and said legs are so formed as to provide a ledge like area upon which the shelf is positioned.

[ Mar. 11, 1975 United States Patent [191 Edlund 1 SELF LOCKING SHELF TABLE Walter Edlund, 1201 Spear St Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam South Burlington, Vt. 05401 Apr. 18, 1973 Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman [76 Inventor:

Attorney, Agent, or FirmKemon, Palmer & Estabrook [22] Filed:

21 Appl. No.: 352,352

ABSTRACT A table of the knockdown type which is provided with [52] U.S. Cl. 108/101 [51] Int. A47b 57/00 a plurality of readily detachable legs and having a shelf that is carried by said legs in spaced parallel rela- [58] Field of Search..... ,l11,153; 248/188; 151/41.76

[56] Ref re e Cit d tion to said table. The shelf is formed with suitable ap- UNITED STATES PATENTS g5 dge like area upon ertures through which the legs project and said 1e are so formed as to provide a le which the shelf is positioned.

1,426,531 8/1922 Abbinson............................

2,665,730 7/1954 Trumble 3,180,288 4/1965 McCowan...........................

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 640,334 10/1964 Belgium............................ 108/111 SELF LOCKING SHELF TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to tables or horizontally supported planar surfaces with a plurality of independent legs designed to support said table or surface.

The usual table of the knockdown type consists of a table top or surface supported by a plurality of legs which are provided with means for quickly and securely attaching said legs to and removing them from the table top or surface. In some instances the table was provided with a shelf arranged to extend between the various legs in a plane parallel to the table top or sur face. The manner of attaching or securing the shelf to the table legs is usually by means of screws, bolts and nuts or suitable clamps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the concept of positioning or mounting a shelf upon the several legs of a table top or surface whereby the shelf will be arranged in a plane parallel to but spaced from said table top or surface. The legs are configured to project through suitable apertures in the shelf member in'such a manner as to hold the shelf in a fixed and rigid position relative to the table top or surface. The manner in which the legs are attached to the shelf tends to make the table more stable and rigid. This arrangement tends to insure that the table will be rigid and stable at all times regardless of how often the legs are removed from and later attached to the table top when reassembling the table. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a shelf for a table which shelf is connected to and carried by the legs of the table without the use of screws, bolts and nuts or other fastening means.

Another object is to provide a shelf for a table which is maintained in a rigid horizontal position by the legs of the table which also support the shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled table and shelf embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the table of the present invention in an inverted position and showing the legs and shelf in a partially assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of a table and shelf and leg during assembly and prior to the leg being finally attached to the table surface, the view being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the position of the shelf and leg after the leg has been finally secured to the table surface, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a table, leg, and shelf embodying the present invention, the view being taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view, partly in section, of a portion ofa leg member having a modified fastening member; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a cleat member showing the attaching nut member embedded therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1, a

table top or surface 10 which may be of any configuration such as square, round or the like, and formed from any suitable wood such as pine, maple, or the like. The bottom surface or face of the table top 10 is provided with a pair of cleat members 12 which are preferably glued to the bottom face in spaced parallel relation to one another and adjacent opposite edges of the table. The cleat members may be firmly glued to the bottom face of the table top and also secured thereon by other suitable fastening means in order to prevent warping and distortion of the table top. The cleat members 12 are each provided with a pair of angular shaped screw threaded nuts 14 which are inserted or imbedded in the cleat members adjacent there respective ends. In view of the fact that the cleat member is of a thickness greater than that of the nut, the cleat member is formed with a recess in one face for the reception of the angular shaped nuts 14 with a perforation or opening provided in the cleat member which is in axial alignment or relation with the threaded aperture in each of the nuts 14. When the cleat members 12 are glued or otherwise attached to the bottom face of the table, the nuts 14, being imbedded in the cleat members, are firmly secured to and thereby become permanently associated with the table top and thus cannot be displaced from the table top or the cleat members. The threaded nuts 14 serve as attaching members whereby leg members 16 may be attached to the table top, FIGS. 1 and 2. Inasmuch as the nuts 14 are of angular configuration they do not rotate in the cleat members 12 when the legs 16 are being attached thereto.

The legs 16 are of cylindrical configuration throughout with the major portion of each leg being inclined or tapered upwardly from the bottom thereof. The upper end portion of each leg 16, at a point slightly above the middle portion of the leg, is reduced in diameter to detime an annular ledge or support 18 with the remaining end portion 20 of the leg being inclined or tapered upwardly to the end of the leg. The diameter of the leg at the annular ledge or support 18 is approximately the same as the diameter of the top or upper end 22 of the leg 16, thus the upper upward taper or inclination of the upper end portion of the leg approximates that of the major portion of the leg 16. The top 22 of the leg 16 is adapted to receive a threaded member 24 with the lower portion thereof being firmly imbedded in the upper portion of the leg member while the upper portion of the screw member 24 is arranged to project beyond the top 22 of the leg member 16. The projecting portion of the threaded member 24 is adapted for a metal nut such as a threaded nut 14 in the cleat member 12 whereby the leg member 16 may be secured to the table top.

A shelf member 26 of a shape commensurate with that of the table top is supported on the leg member 16 beneath and in spaced parallel relation to the top 10. While the size of the shelf is not material from an appearance standpoint, it has been found more acceptable to make the shelf smaller in overall size than the table top 10. The shelf is provided with suitable apertures 28 which correspond in number to the number of legs employed in supporting the table top, thus in the present illustration an aperture is formed in each corner of the shelf. The apertures are diametrically spaced in opposite corners and are of the same diameter and each aperture is identically located in each corner of the shelf. The shelf when laid over the cleat members 12 shows that the center of each hole in the shelf is offset with respect to the aperture formed in the corresponding cleat member. In other words when the shelf is positioned over the cleat members 12 so that an opening in each corner of the shelf overlies a perforation or opening in the cleat member 12 which perforation or opening is in aligned relation with the threaded nut 14 the distance from the center of an opening in one corner of the shelf to the center of a diametrically disposed opening is less than the distance between corresponding openings or perforations in the cleat members. Thus, the diametrically disposed apertures 28 in the shelf member 26 are offset with respect to the corresponding perforations or openings in the cleat members 12. Thus the distance between diametrically disposed apertures 28 in the shelf member 26 tends to correspond to the distance between the annular ledge or support 18 of diametrically disposed leg member 16 when they are secured to the nuts 14 in the cleat members 12.

In assembling the table of the present invention, the table top is placed faced down on a supporting surface so that the cleat members are then facing upwardly. The legs 16 are then connected to the table by inserting the upper end of the threaded member 24 into the threaded nuts 14. The nuts 14 are formed with a sloppy or enlarged thread at the beginning of the thread portion of the nuts so that there are only a relatively few threads in the nut which are firmly engaged by the threaded upward portion of the member 26. The relatively few threads of the nut which are engaged by the threaded member 24 are sufficient to ensure permanent and rigid attachment of the leg 16 with the cleat members 12. The initial engagement of the threaded portion of the member 24 with the nut 14 results in the leg 16 having a wobbly motion. With the legs loosely mounted on the cleat members 12 through the foregoing type of engagement of the nuts by the members 24, the shelf 26 is dropped over the legs until each aperture 28 in the shelf overlies thereduced portion of the leg 16 adjacent the ledge or support 18. The legs are then tightened by turning same until the threaded member 24 is secured within the nut 14 and the top 22 of each leg 16 is tightly engaged with the cleat member 12. Upon tightening of the leg 16, the shelf 26 is supported on the annular-ledge 18 and the reduced portion of the leg 16 at said annular ledge is engaged by the portion of the shelf member 26 that defines the aperture 28 therein so that the shelf is rigidly supported and maintained by said legs. With the legs attached to the cleat members, the table is then inverted with its legs placed on a suitable surface at which time the shelf is firmly supported on the ledge 18 while being maintained in a rigid position by the reduced portion of the legs 16 adjacent to the ledge 18. There is shown in FIG. 3 the position or relationship between the leg 16 and the shelf 26 after the shelf has been placed over the legs and prior to the final tightening of the legs 16 against the cleat member 12. In FIG. 4, there is disclosed the final position or relationship of the leg and shelf and the manner in which the shelf is engaged by the reduced portion of the leg 16 is clearly indicated.

There is shown in FIG. 6 a modification of the threaded member 24 in the leg member 16. In this modified form the threaded member 30 is positioned in an oversize hole in the leg member 16 so that the threaded member will have a very loose fit in the end of said leg member. To prevent the threaded memm ber 30 from turning after it has been placed in the oversized hole in the leg member 16, a hole is drilled through the leg member 16 and the lower portion of the threaded member so that a pin 32 may be driven through said hole and thereby anchor the threaded member against turning with respect to the leg member.

The leg member 16 as shown in FIG. 6 is then secured to a nut carried by the cleat member 12 which nut is provided with a conventional and standard thread for engagement by the threaded end portion of the threaded member 30. The loose fit of the threaded member in the oversize hole in the end of the leg mem ber 16 as shown in FIG. 6 will permit the leg to have the same type of wobbly motion as was true with respect to the leg as shown in FIG. 5 so that the shelf may then be mounted upon the leg member in the same manner as previously described.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modification of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What I claim:

1. In a knockdown table the combination of a table top and shelf, a plurality of cleat members secured to the bottom surface of said table top, said cleat members having recesses formed therein and closed by said top, said cleat members having threaded nut members positioned in said recesses, a plurality of leg members, each leg member having a reduced portion adjacent one end thereof, said end of each leg having a threaded member projecting outwardly therefrom, said shelf being ofa size and shape complimentary to that-of said table top, said shelf having an opening therein complimentary to each threaded nut member, the distance from the center of one opening in said shelf to the center of another opening in said shelf being less than the distance between the centers of the corresponding threaded nut members in said cleat members, each leg member having said end thereof project through an opening in said shelf with the threaded member thereof engaging a threaded nut member, said threaded member of each leg initially having a loose fit with said threaded nut member to facilitate the positioning of said shelf within the reduced portion of said leg member, said threaded member of each leg member upon being threaded into said nut member drawing the end of the leg member into engagement with said cleat member contemporaneous with anchoring said shelf on the reduced portion of said leg member.

2. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reduced portion of each leg member defines an annular ledge for supporting said shelf.

3. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the threads formed in said threaded nut members are oversize to provide an initially loose and sloppy fit between said nut member and the threaded member of each leg member.

4. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the threaded member of each leg member is pivotally mounted in the end thereof to provide a loose fit upon the initial engagement of the threaded member of the leg with the threaded nut member.

5. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 with aloose fit, apin extending through said leg memwherein said threaded member of each leg is positioned her and said threaded member to anchor said threaded in a hole in said leg of a size greater than that of said member in said leg member. threaded member to provide said threaded member 

1. In a knockdown table the combination of a table top and a shelf, a plurality of cleat members secured to the bottom surface of said table top, said cleat members having recesses formed therein and closed by said top, said cleat members having threaded nut members positioned in said recesses, a plurality of leg members, each leg member having a reduced portion adjacent one end thereof, said end of each leg having a threaded member projecting outwardly therefrom, said shelf being of a size and shape complimentary to that of said table top, said shelf having an opening therein complimentary to each threaded nut member, the distance from the center of one opening in said shelf to the center of another opening in said shelf being less than the distance between the centers of the corresponding threaded nut members in said cleat members, each leg member having said end thereof project through an opening in said shelf with the threaded member thereof engaging a threaded nut member, said threaded member of each leg initially having a loose fit with said threaded nut member to facilitate the positioning of said shelf within the reduced portion of said leg member, said threaded member of each leg member upon being threaded into said nut member drawing the end of the leg member into engagement with said cleat member contemporaneous with anchoring said shelf on the reduced portion of said leg member.
 1. In a knockdown table the combination of a table top and a shelf, a plurality of cleat members secured to the bottom surface of said table top, said cleat members having recesses formed therein and closed by said top, said cleat members having threaded nut members positioned in said recesses, a plurality of leg members, each leg member having a reduced portion adjacent one end thereof, said end of each leg having a threaded member projecting outwardly therefrom, said shelf being of a size and shape complimentary to that of said table top, said shelf having an opening therein complimentary to each threaded nut member, the distance from the center of one opening in said shelf to the center of another opening in said shelf being less than the distance between the centers of the corresponding threaded nut members in said cleat members, each leg member having said end thereof project through an opening in said shelf with the threaded member thereof engaging a threaded nut member, said threaded member of each leg initially having a loose fit with said threaded nut member to facilitate the positioning of said shelf within the reduced portion of said leg member, said threaded member of each leg member upon being threaded into said nut member drawing the end of the leg member into engagement with said cleat member contemporaneous with anchoring said shelf on the reduced portion of said leg member.
 2. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reduced portion of each leg member defines an annular ledge for supporting said shelf.
 3. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the threads formed in said threaded nut members are oversize to provide an initially loose and sloppy fit between said nut member and the threaded member of each leg member.
 4. In a knockdown table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the threaded member of each leg member is pivotally mounted in the end thereof to provide a loose fit upon the initial engagement of the threaded member of the leg with the threaded nut member. 